A group of 30 children, aged 12-16, from Lemon-Trees School are taking part in Kids Challenge, a nationally recognised scheme that requires them to develop a range of skills such as teamwork and leadership through activities such as orienteering and water sports. In January they spent three days completing a trek in Wales, which involved hiking 20 miles a day, and camping in tents overnight. After the first day, the weather became unusually and extremely cold and it snowed. The teachers, Penelope and Aisha, insisted that the group should continue with the trek because it was designed to be a challenge and would show the childrens resilience, teamwork and survival skills. As a result of sleeping in such cold conditions, one of the children, Robert, developed hypothermia and died.
The party were rescued and stayed in a hotel for the final night. The school instructed Penelope and Aisha to take the other children swimming to cheer them up. Unfortunately Aisha was sick and Penelope had to supervise the remaining 29 children alone. Penelope was doing her best, but while she had her back turned to talk to one of Roberts friends, who was crying, one of the children, Lidia, dived into the swimming pool and landed on 15-year old Yomis head, damaging his spinal cord and leaving him permanently paralysed.
Advise Roberts parents and Yomi as to any claims they may have in negligence.
